Course approval and accreditation

Under the Education Act 1989 section 258, an institution that proposes to provide a course of study or training may apply to NZQA for the grant of approval to the course. Approved courses can only be delivered by accredited providers.

In some cases, legislation requires a course to be approved, and their providers accredited to deliver it. These include courses leading to teacher registration, social worker registration and nursing registration.

Application decline

An application may be declined if two or more of the criteria are not met after NZQA analysis.

Course approval

Course approval confirms that a course is based on clear and consistent aims, content, outcomes and assessment practices, which meet the necessary criteria and requirements.

Once approved, changes you make to a course may need NZQA approval. See Making changes to an approved course.

Course accreditation

Course accreditation confirms that a provider is deemed capable of delivering an approved course. A course must be approved if a provider wishes to be accredited by NZQA to deliver it. A provider may seek accreditation to deliver their own or another organisation's approved course.

Standards accreditation confirms that a provider is capable of assessing against standards. A provider must have accreditation for all unit standards assessed in a course before obtaining course approval and accreditation.

What to apply for

If you have developed a course, but do not intend to deliver it, you can apply to NZQA for course approval only.

If other providers wish to deliver your course, you will need to ensure they can, by getting it approved. They will then need to apply to NZQA for accreditation to deliver your course.

Conversely, if you arrange with another organisation to deliver their approved course, you must apply to NZQA for accreditation to deliver that course.

Use the following table to determine whether the course you have developed or wish to deliver requires NZQA approval and accreditation

Apply for approval and accreditation

Course approval and accreditation are often linked, and can be applied for as one application. Standards accreditation should be applied for before course accreditation, as a separate application, if required.

Applications can be submitted online.

For more information on the application process, or to apply manually, see:

• Process for developing a course
• Apply for standards accreditation
• Apply for course approval and accreditation

Tertiary Education Commission requirements

Providers must gain course approval and accreditation to be eligible for Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) Student Component Funding, or for their learners to be eligible for student allowances and loans.

For more information, see Tertiary Education Commission.

Courses offered to international learners

Course approval and accreditation are required for courses that will be offered to international learners, although there are some course exemptions.

To enrol international learners, providers must also be signatories to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.

Further information

For further information about course approval and accreditation, contact the Registration, Approval and Accreditation team.